Interlibrary Loans

Interlibrary loan is a service provided to obtain materials that are not available in Summar Library and to loan materials found in Summar Library to other libraries. Two interlibrary loan systems are used by Union - OCLC and Docline. OCLC is a nationwide interlibrary loan system used by libraries of all types. Docline is a nationwide system used primarily by health sciences libraries.

For research and study, Union faculty members, staff and students may request library materials not available in the Summar Library, within the following guidelines:

Interlibrary loans are subject to any special regulations imposed by the lending library.

Photocopies requested as interlibrary loans must comply with the Copyright Law and Guidelines. Other libraries may charge to send photocopies to Union patrons. The library will pay these normal charges.

Sometimes other libraries will charge to loan a book or other materials. Summar Library will pay this charge.

Summar Library will not lend or request an interlibrary loan for certain types of materials such as rare or valuable materials, reference materials, current periodicals, textbooks or media. Materials that are loaned are generally checked out for two to four weeks and any renewal periods granted are determining by the lending library.

Requests for interlibrary loans may be made using the online form located on the library's homepage.

Postage costs for books requested through interlibrary loan are absorbed by the library.

Patrons not currently affiliated with the University are not eligible to make interlibrary loan requests and will be directed to their institution or to the Public Library.

Limit Policies/Fines

Students are allowed 50 interlibrary loan requests per semester at no charge. Above 50, a fee of $5.00 per request will be charged for the remainder of the semester.

Faculty and Staff are allowed 100 interlibrary loan requests per semester at no charge. Above 100, a fee of $5.00 per request will charged for the remainder of the semester.

Semesters are defined as: 1) Fall/Winter 2) Spring 3) Summer

The fine for an overdue interlibrary loan book is $1.00 per day if the book is not returned by the specified due date or renewal date if the book has been renewed.

NOTICE WARNING CONCERNING COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS

The copyright laws of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) govern the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material.

Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement.

This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.